, Guest Columnist
A US Government Shutdown Should Never Be an Option
Keeping federal services running and workers on the job is a fundamental responsibility of Congress and the White House.
The government shutdowns in 2013, 2018 and 2019 cost taxpayers nearly $4 billion.
Photographer: Alex Wong/Getty Images
This article is for subscribers only.
The highly contentious partisan fight in Congress over federal spending is creating a strong possibility of a government shutdown on Oct. 1, an all-too-familiar situation that is forcing federal agencies to confront serious budget uncertainties and the prospect of large-scale furloughs.
For most businesses, operating under the constant threat of a shutdown would be unthinkable — none could tolerate the effects of such instability on their workforces and on their ability to serve their customers.